Abstract: A device for erecting a flat collapsed carrier, the device comprising a shaft (46) having a longitudinal axis (a). A hub (27) is mounted to the shaft. At least one limb (16a-c) is rotationally mounted to the hub by a pivot coupling. A tool head (14a-c) is mounted to the limb. A drive motor is coupled to the shaft for rotating the hub about the longitudinal axis. The device comprises a first drive mechanism for rotating the at least one limb with respect to the hub such that the distance between the tool head and longitudinal axis can be adjusted.

Abstract: Extractor systems for extracting a flexible article of manufacture from a mold include an extraction roller, at least one track configured to support the extraction roller, and a trolley configured to carry the extraction roller from a first side of the mold toward a second, opposite side of the mold. Molding systems include a mold and an extractor system. Methods of extracting a flexible article of manufacture from a mold include separating a first platen and a second platen, positioning an extraction roller between the separated first and second platens, engaging the article of manufacture with a row of teeth positioned along the extraction roller, and rotating the extraction roller to wrap the article of manufacture about the extraction roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for fetching a blank from a magazine holding a number of blanks is presented. Each of the blanks is a sleeve shaped piece of packaging material folded planar. The apparatus comprises a rotary feeder provided with a gripper. The rotary feeder and the gripper are arranged to rotate around a main rotational axis, such that the gripper is moved between a fetching position in which a blank is fetched and a releasing position in which the blank is released. The gripper is arranged to rotate around a gripper specific rotational axis, such that fetching the blank in the fetching position is facilitated.

Abstract: Equipment for feeding containers to a packaging machine comprising a magazine containing stacked containers. The equipment comprising a carousel device for collecting and inserting the containers into a conveyor. The magazine is positioned with its lower end slightly above that of the conveyor and suitably upstream thereof, in that a carousel device, rotating about a horizontal axis orthogonal to the direction of continuous advance of the upper run of the conveyor of the packaging machine, is located under the magazine and upstream of the conveyor, in that this carousel device comprises a plurality of suction cup units positioned in a way determined by interaction with cams, and in that the units are designed to grip the container and draw it from the base of the store by gripping the base wall by means of which these units subsequently deposit the container in a dynamic way on to the conveyor.

Abstract: A device for separating individual, two-dimensional, flexible objects from the lower side of a stack of such objects and for conveying the separated objects away from the stack. The device includes a stack space with a support region, and a support member that supports the stack from below in the support region. The support member includes a support roller arrangement of a plurality of support rollers. The device further includes at least one separating member for separating the objects from the lower side of the stack in the support region. The support roller arrangement is part of a roller guidance device and is translatorily movable to and from between a support position and a release position.

Abstract: The device for transferring folding boxes has a planetary carrier, which rotates around a horizontal axis and which includes, as its planets, two suction arms, which are supported rotatably in the planetary carrier and are connected to two roller star units, which are guided on a cam disk unit consisting of two cam disks with different curved guide surfaces. A drive for the cam disk unit is designed to turn the cam disk unit around the horizontal axis in rotational direction of the planetary carrier but at a rotational speed double the rotational speed of the planetary carrier.

Abstract: The suction transport device for taking off a sheet from a sheet stack in a sheet running direction (BL) includes at least two revolving suction means (12, 14) which are mounted to be adjustable horizontally and transversally to the sheet running direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeder for separating sheets from a stack and for feeding the sheets to a downstream sheet processing machine includes a first suction wheel and a second suction wheel. The first suction wheel is disposed above the stack and the second suction wheel is disposed downstream of the stack and below a sheet travel plane. The first suction wheel separates a respective sheet from the stack and the second suction wheel accelerates the sheet.

Abstract: A receiving, holding and/or handling device for two-dimensional objects, with at least two controllable suction grippers. The suction grippers are arranged and connected to free ends of movable cantilever arms, which are elastically deformable at least in some sections. The cantilever arm are mounted and supported on a bridge. The cantilever arms each include at least one lower pull and one upper pull which meet at the free end of the cantilever arm and are connected there. An actuating device is assigned to the upper pull. The actuating device generates a pulling force with at least one horizontal direction component which is approximately parallel to the longitudinal extension direction of the cantilever arm. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A printing and peeling arrangement comprises an impression drum for supporting a print medium during application of a printing image thereto, and one or more rotating vacuum fingers for applying vacuum via suction caps to the print medium to peel the print medium from the impression drum after printing. The vacuum finger is mounted for radial motion towards the impression drum and thereby avoids impact damage onto the print medium from the edges of the suction caps that results from a purely rotational approach to the drum.

Abstract: A rotary transfer mechanism for transferring flat sleeve cartons (20) from a magazine (22) to a receiving station (23) on a conveyor (24), with opening of the cartons ready to receive end-loaded product, is characterized in that the path of suction cups (32) for holding the cartons during transfer is basically determined by a continuous stationary cam track (34) permanently engaged by a cam follower (37) on a gear segment (35) pivotally mounted on carrier means (29) rotatable by a drive shaft (26), the suction cups (32) being carried by a support shaft (30) rotatable on the carrier means and coaxial with a pinion (38) meshing with the gear segment. (35), and the support shaft being connected to a bracket (48) carrying a manifold (47) for the suction cups (32) by a crank arm (53), which is connected by a link arm (54) to a rocker arm (55) freely rotatable on the drive shaft (26).

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus including a sheet tray for storing a plurality of sheets of paper, the sheet tray capable of being pulled out in a direction perpendicular to a sheet feed direction, a pair of side regulating members for regulating both lateral surfaces of the sheets, the regulating members being provided over the sheet tray and perpendicular to the sheet feed direction, a vacuum belt to suck a sheet of paper from above and feed the sheets, and a moving mechanism for moving the vacuum belt or one of the regulating members that is provided on a back side in the direction of pulling out the sheet tray in the vertical directions, in such a way that, when the sheet tray is pulled out, the uppermost end of the regulating member provided on the back side is lower than the lowermost surface of the vacuum belt.

Abstract: Various apparatus and methods relating to positioning differently sized sheets on a shuttle for printing are disclosed.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes conveying suction belts which have a function of rotating an adsorbed sheet and a function of conveying the sheet; a suction fan 112 which adsorbs the sheet to the belts; CCDs which detect a position and an skew in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction while the sheet is adsorbed to the belts; and a control device for driving the belts to rotate the sheet according to signals of CCDs in order to correct an attitude of the sheet adsorbed to the belts.

Abstract: A carton feeding system for feeding a series of cartons into selected flights of a carton conveyor is disclosed. The carton feeding system generally includes a rotary feeder having a series of carton feeding assemblies rotated thereabout. The carton engaging assemblies are attached to a gearing system or mechanism that controls the operating angle of the carton engaging assemblies as they engage or pick the cartons from a magazine or supply. Thereafter, the cartons are erected within the flights of a carton conveyor moving beneath the rotary feeder as the carton engaging elements are carried about their path of travel.

Abstract: A media pickup system suitable for use with an imaging apparatus including a pickup assembly including at least one pickup bar having a concave channel a curved surface, and an actuator configured to move the pickup bar between a first position and a second position, wherein the pickup assembly, when the pickup bar is in the second position, is configured to selectively engage and draw a portion of a first sheet of a stack of sheets of imaging media into the concave channel to bend the first sheet to create and air channel between and to separate the first sheet from a remaining portion of the stack of sheets of imaging media.

Abstract: An apparatus of feeding mailpieces such as envelopes is disclosed. The apparatus includes a supply conveyer for supporting thereon an array of mailpieces which are arranged in a tilted-backward position and moving such mailpieces forward, and a suction feeder which is located downstream of the supply conveyer for picking up by suction a forefront mailpiece from the array of mailpieces on the supply conveyer. The suction feeder has a rotary drum, a shaft rotatably supported in the drum and disposed with the axis thereof oriented in parallel to and offset from the axis of the drum. An external gear is fixed on the shaft for rotation therewith and a stationary internal gear engages with the external gear, the gear ratio of the external gear to the internal gear being n:n+1, wherein n represents an integer.

Abstract: A sheet takeout mechanism has a takeout roller that rotates in contact with a sheet located at a takeout position, and a motor that intermittently rotates the takeout roller. A triangular suction port is formed on a suction surface of the takeout roller and has a vertex located downstream in a rotation direction of the takeout roller. When a negative pressure is exerted on the sheet via the suction port, the suction force is weak at the beginning of suction and then increases gradually.

Abstract: An apparatus for sequentially manipulating from a supply point of a hopper carton blanks each having a contacting panel and for transferring the blanks to an in-feed end of a packaging machine. The apparatus comprises carton pick up means for sequentially engaging the contacting panel and for withdrawing from the hopper a blank. The carton pick up means is supported by a holder frame that is connected to a swingable collar structure to move the blank in a first direction transverse to the contacting panel of the blank in the hopper. The holder frame is slidably connected to the collar structure through rods to move the blank in a second direction transverse to the first direction to transfer the blank to the in-feed end for further processing.

Abstract: A sheet material feeder includes a sheet material holder for holding a pile of sheet material, a rotating drum for transporting the sheet material from the pile, and an acceleration device receiving the sheet material from the rotating drum at a first speed and releasing the sheet material at a second speed greater than the first speed. Also disclosed is a sheet material feeder with a sheet material holder for holding a pile of sheet material; and a rotating drum for transporting the sheet material from the pile, the rotating drum including at least one sucker rotating with the drum for contacting the sheet material.

Abstract: In a sheet sucking/feeding device, actuators are independently and individually connected respectively to plural suction cups. At a point in time when a printing plate is sucked and raised up by a predetermined amount, every other one of the actuators is simultaneously operated such that the suction cups connected to the operated actuators are displaced upwardly. The sucked uppermost printing plate is curved so as to become wavy. Air enters in between the uppermost printing plate and a next printing plate therebeneath such that that printing plate therebeneath is disjoined (separated). Only the uppermost printing plate is stably removed and fed out.

Abstract: Label transfer apparatus (160) and a method for transferring labels (54) from a label stack (164) for in-mold labeling prior to blow molding utilize a transfer head (168) that is movable on a rotary table (186) with additional transfer heads (168), adjacent a label magazine (162) with an exposed end (172) from which the labels are sequentially dispensed. The transfer head includes a pair of vacuum openings (174) to which a vacuum is supplied and an actuator (176) moves the transfer head with a rolling motion to engage the one vacuum opening with the label to initially pull an extremity (180) of the label, to subsequently pull an intermediate portion (182), and to finally engage the other vacuum opening with the label to pull an opposite extremity (184) of the label away from the label stack in a manner that permits high speed labeling.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting flexible, sheet-like products, in particular printed products 9, away and/or for further processing, and having a plurality of grippers 3 which can be moved along a gripper conveying route and follow one after the other in the transporting direction, and having a plurality of suction elements 2 which can be moved along a suction element conveying route and are intended for receiving in each case one product 9 and for transferring the received product 9 to a gripper 3, the above operations taking place in a receiving and transfer region wherein the suction element conveying route runs along or parallel to the gripper conveying route.

Abstract: For removing blanks (10) from a blanks magazine (14, 15) a transfer roller (18, 19) is employed which grips the blank (10) with a suction head (20) and takes it along its circumference. The transfer roller (18, 19) must be moved back and forth along a linear path of movement below the blanks magazine (14, 15) by rotating about its own axis. This movement is driven by a crank gear —crank arm (24) and strut (26) —which are directly, i.e. by means of a swivel arm (28), connected to the transfer roller (18, 19). A differential gear (23) acts to produce a linear movement of the transfer rollers (18, 19).

Abstract: A paper feeder includes a conveyor for conveying a single paper fed from the upstream side to the downstream side along a transport path while sucking the paper. A suction mechanism faces the conveyor for holding another paper fed together with the above paper by suction. A moving device moves the suction mechanism in a direction perpendicular to a direction of paper conveyance. The paper feeder is capable of accurately feeding various kinds of papers without regard to their thickness or size and delivering even a paper fed together with another paper to a transport path without discharging it to the outside.

Abstract: The apparatus serves for transporting flexible, sheet-like products, in particular printed products, from a stack, which is positioned at a receiving location, to a discharge location.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for unstacking sheets stacked in a feeder, comprising a step which consists in bringing a vacuum cup close to the surface of the sheet at the top of the stack; a step which consists in contacting the vacuum cup with the surface of said top sheet and a step in bringing the vacuum cup away after seizing the top sheet. The invention is characterized in that the vacuum cup is applied in an off-center zone of the top sheet, and said vacuum cup is inclined, when it starts to move away, so as to cause the top sheet to be deformed thereby producing a separation prior to complete separation of the top sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for picking up a plurality of papers stacked in an upright position one by one is disclosed. A pick-up mechanism is angularly movable about a single point between a position for sucking the outermost paper and a position for conveying it. While an sending mechanism sends air toward the bottom of a stack of papers positioned on a tray, the pick-up mechanism sucks the outermost paper and moves away from the other papers at a low speed. After the pick-up mechanism has conveyed the above paper, it moves toward she next paper for sucking it at a high speed. Air being sent from the above mechanism insures the separation of the consecutive papers. Because the pickup mechanism retaining the outermost sheet by suction moves slowly away from the other papers, the outermost paper is easily spaced from the other papers and therefore more surely separated from the other papers. This obviates a shearing force otherwise acting on and damaging, e.g., letters and magazines of delicate quality.

Abstract: Device for separating stacked flat bag pieces, comprising a supporting structure, which is pivot-mounted in a frame and is provided with a drive, and on which suction rollers can be rotated, whose drive is in a direction of rotation opposite to the supporting structure's direction of rotation. A stacking cassette is positioned in such a manner at the enveloping cylinder, described by the rows of suction elements or suction rollers that each row of suction elements in each roller pulls a bag piece from said cassette. To prevent the trailing side edges of the bag pieces from folding over, the bag pieces are held in the stacking cassette with offset cuts, facing outwardly in the direction of the axis of rotation.

Abstract: An apparatus has a paper cassette capable of accommodating a recording medium such as large-size recording sheets or OHP film, and an accommodating unit capable of accommodating recording sheets such as plain paper. The types of recording sheets that are accommodated in the paper cassette and accommodating unit are sensed by paper sensors. If the recording sheets accommodated in the paper cassette are large in size or consist of resin film, then one of these recording sheets is attracted by suction using a suction cup and is thus fed from the paper cassette. If the recording sheets accommodated in the accommodating unit are plain paper, one of these recording sheets is extracted from the accommodating unit by a rotating separation roller. The paper cassette and the accommodating unit are respectively provided with a feed unit relying upon the suction cup and a feed unit relying upon the separation roller.

Abstract: The apparatus for separating a flat product from a pile of flat products, has a sucker mechanism with an upper and a lower part. The upper part is connected to a first link joint of a central lever and the lower part is connected to a second link joint of the central lever. The central lever is rotatable about an axis which extends through the central lever. The axis is movable along the central lever, in order to change the position of the pivot point of the central lever.

Abstract: A plate feed apparatus has a cylindrical pick-up head having a predetermined number of pick-up units. The pick-up head rotates with a first shaft at a first rotational speed. A feed mechanism places the uppermost plate in a stack of plates a nominal distance from the periphery of the pick-up head when a plate is removed from the stack. A vacuum is selectively drawn through each pick-up unit to pull the outermost plate into contact with the pick-up unit. A second shaft has a cylindrical bore which rotatably journals the first shaft and is offset from the centerline of the second shaft. The second shaft is rotated counter to the first shaft at a speed which is a multiple of the speed of the first shaft equal to the number of pick-up units. This causes the speed of the pick-up unit to be slower and its distance from the uppermost plate in the stack less each time a pick-up unit picks up a plate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rotary object feeder, which feeds objects from a by rotating the objects from a pick-up location to a drop-off location. The object is picked-up by at least one pick-up member having a suction cup. Suction at the suction cup is controlled by a vacuum generator proximate the suction cup. Additionally, a control valve is interconnected to a programmable controller that controls the presence or absence of suction at the suction cup. The controller may be dynamically programmed for flexibly adjusting the pick-up and drop-off locations for objects. The controller may further advance the turn-off position of vacuum at the suction cup, in order to implement a speed compensation system to accurately deliver objects to the drop-off location. The invention is particular well suited for use as a rotary carton feeder.

Abstract: A drive transmission for a pull or forwarding sucker located in a suction head of a sheet feeder for translatorily driving a sucker-carrying support movable in a guide provided on a suction-head housing, the sucker-carrying support being connected articulatingly to at least one coupler swivelable about an axis extending transversely to the translatory motion of the sucker-carrying support, includes a first drive cam for moving the coupler and for effecting a forwarding motion, and a second drive cam for a roller lever mounted in the suction-head housing and being swivelably connected to the coupler, the second drive cam having a profile for leveling the translatory motion of the sucker-carrying support.

Abstract: The machine includes a vacuum head which is mounted to rotate on the outer end of an elongated arm adapted to be pivoted upwardly and downwardly about a fixed pivot by a servo drive. As the arm pivots, the vacuum head picks either a carton blank or a tray blank out of a magazine and transfers the blank toward a conveyor. During the pivoting, the vacuum head is turned relative to the arm and, when the blank is a carton blank, the turning motion brings the blank into engagement with a fixed plow which erects the blank. During final downward movement of the arm, the vacuum head is held parallel to the conveyor and moves toward the conveyor with a vertical plunging motion. When the blank is a tray blank, such vertical plunging causes the blank to be erected by flights on the conveyor as the blank is loaded between the flights.

Abstract: An arrangement has a rotor with rotor arms that are arranged in a drum-like manner around an axis of rotation and project on one side from a carrying element that is driven in rotation. The arrangement also has a sucker arrangement that includes a carrying arm which is driven by a drive. At a free end of the carrying arm there is arranged an extension arm with a suction head. The movement path of the suction head runs in the interior of the rotor, with the exception of an approximately V-shaped section of the movement path projecting in a radial direction outside the rotor. When the extension arm runs through this section, it passes through a cutout of the rotor in order to grip a corner region of a printed product and move the printed product into the interior of the rotor. A rotor arm then engages beneath the printed product and lifts it further in order to deliver it to a range of action of a removal conveyor.

Abstract: A carton feeder assembly is positioned substantially at the infeed conveyor level and includes a carton supply assembly, a carton selector, a carton opener, and a carton erector. The carton supply assembly has a carton supply position, a carton holding position, and a carton selecting position. The carton selector includes a pair of feeder wheels with corresponding suction devices and respective motion defining assemblies. The motion defining assemblies cause the suction devices to move along a linear pick line as the feeder wheels rotate, so that the suction devices can apply a suction on a carton to be selected. The selected carton is brought into contact with the feeder wheels by retraction of the suction devices caused by respective motion defining assemblies, so that the carton moves with the feeder wheels to the carton opener.

Abstract: A produce labeller has first and, optionally, second selectively actuable label supply cartridge for selectively supplying labels from the fast or second selectively actuable label supply cartridge to corresponding fast and second label transfer positions in a fast plane. A rotatable label transfer piston housing is provided, rotatable in the first plane on a drive shaft. The rotatable label transfer piston housing has mounted radially therein in the fast plane radially spaced apart resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer pistons for picking up labels from the fast or second selectively actuable label supply cartridge at the fast or second label transfer position, and rotationally carrying the labels from the first or second label transfer position to a label deposit point. The labels are carried on exposed ends of the radially spaced apart resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer pistons, one label per exposed end, by selectively actuable vacuum apertures on each exposed end.

Abstract: A stack of sheets or blanks for feeding one by one from the bottom of the stack by a feeding mechanism is supported for high speed feeding to subsequent stations. A feed cylinder rotatably supported beneath the leading edge of the stack includes a suction device. An intermediate portion of the blank leading edge is drawn by the suction device downwardly toward an opening in the periphery of the feed cylinder. Continued rotation of the feed cylinder further bends the blank. For blanks of large size and having a leading edge with an irregular contour the blank leading edge intermediate portion extends forwardly from edge lateral portions. Positioned in spaced relation along the interior of the feed cylinder are a plurality of air manifolds having outlets directed at selected angles upon the lateral portions of the blank leading edge. The manifolds are connected to a source of pressurized air which is directed in a sweeping motion upon the blank leading edge lateral portions upon rotation of the feed cylinder.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating stacked printed products includes suction heads anchored on a rotor by a respective swivel arm. The swivel arms are driven with regard to their swivel position by a swiveling drive superposed on the rotary drive of the rotor such that they enter the takeover point in pushing operation and leave the latter in pulling operation. At the deflecting point, the suction heads have time to suck against the edge of the respectively outermost product; by their tilting movement at the deflecting point, the seized product edge is separated definitely and reliably from the neighboring product. In connection with a transporting-away device with grippers circulating successively one after the other, the edge of the products is placed into the grippers by the suction heads swiveled during the circulation.

Abstract: This relates to apparatus for transferring flat members such as cartons from a supplly to an applying conveyor chain and the like wherein the supply is disposed above the conveyor and at an angle thereto. The apparatus is in the form of a rotary hopper that is also mounted for oscillatory movement towards and away from the supply and also parallel to the conveyor wherein when a member receiving carrier of the hopper is aligned with a member, the carrier is moved to pick up the member while the carrier presenting a member to the conveyor is advanced at substantially the same rate as the conveyor. The carriers are preferably in the form of suction cups which are valve actuated as the hopper rotates.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the position of suction-type grippers on a sheet-transfer drum, wherein the suction-type grippers are disposed basically along at least one generating line, are displaceable perpendicularly to a sheet-transport direction and are fixable, including a plurality of endless belts, the suction-type grippers being disposed on the endless belts.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the position of suction-type grippers on a sheet-transfer drum, wherein the suction-type grippers, disposed basically along at least one generating line, are displaceable perpendicularly to a sheet-transport direction and are fixably disposed, includes a multi-member differential worm-gear unit having output members secured against rotation relative thereto, the suction-type grippers being fastened to the output members, and precisely one rotational input member disposed on the differential worm-gear unit for simultaneously adjusting all of the suction-type grippers.

Abstract: 1. Apparatus for the storage and extraction of blanks (10) consisting of thin cardboard from a blank magazine (12).2.1. An extraction unit (16) having a sun wheel (17) and planet wheels (18, 19) rotating about the latter serves for the continuous extraction of blanks (10) consisting of thin cardboard from a blank magazine (12). Each planet wheel (18, 19) rotating about its own axis extracts a lower blank (10) of a blank stack (11) in the blank magazine (12) and transfers this onto the sun wheel (17). The blank is transferred from the latter, in conjunction with a transport disc (51, 52), into a blank track (14).2.2. The sun wheel (17) and the planet wheels (18, 19) grasp the blanks (10) solely in a middle region, namely in the region of a blank middle strip (46), with the exclusion of lateral folding tabs (39, 40; 41, 42).

Abstract: A machine for making cups of thermoplastic coated paper, the machine including a frame or housing having a turret rotatably mounted on the frame, a number of work stations mounted on the frame in an equally spaced relation around the turret, a number of mandrels corresponding to the number of work stations mounted on the turret and a curling die mounted on the turret in radial alignment with each of the mandrels. The turret being rotated intermittently to align the mandrels sequentially with the work stations, the work stations being movable radially inwardly into a working relation with each mandrel, the mandrels being moved radially inwardly simultaneously with the work stations to form a tucked curl on the top edge of the cup.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for feeding single sheets of laminated thermographic print media are disclosed. The apparatus includes a traveling vacuum roller reciprocatable between pickup and discharge positions under suitable control so as to engage an end of the sheet near the pickup end and roll the sheet thereabout to a selected first angular position and then releasing the sheet end at such position. The vacuum roller continues to engage the sheet and applies a vacuum to engage the other end of the sheet so as to carry it to a second angular position and then releasing the sheet by releasing the vacuum as the roller approaches the discharge position. A wrapping roller engages the vacuum roller for directing the end of the rolled sheet towards the discharge after releasing it. A lift mechanism near the discharge position lifts the vacuum roller as it approaches the discharge.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting a sheet from a stack of sheets including a frame, a suction plate for engaging a sheet from the stack, a lifter connected to the suction plate so as to move the suction plate in a vertical direction, a setting member pivotally connected to the suction plate, and a ramp member connected to the frame and positioned along a length of the setting member. The lifter serves to move the suction plate between a first sheet-engaging position and a second sheet-releasing position. The suction plate is pivotally connected to the lifter so as to align parallel to the surface of a sheet. The setting member extends upwardly from the suction plate The ramp member is in cooperative relationship with the setting member. The setting member causes the ramp member to be positioned in parallel relationship to the suction plate when the suction plate is in the first position. The ramp member is stationary during a movement of the suction plate between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A device wherein at least one feedbox housing a stack of sheet elements presents a first and second wall parallel to each other, and an actuating device for moving the two walls in relation to and parallel to each other, so as to define a channel varying in width between a maximum and minimum value; the section of the channel at maximum width being approximately equal to but no smaller than the surface of the sheet element.

Abstract: An article forming system for forming at least one sheet of material into an article, such as a decorative flower pot cover for example. The article forming system includes a male die and a female die. A sheet of material is automatically moved to a loaded position between the male and female dies and then the male and female dies are moved to a forming position for forming the article. The formed articles are automatically stacked.

Abstract: In a sheet feeder device of the vacuum belt type, the vacuum belt moves in a pivotal manner between a generally horizontal sheet acquiring position, in which the lower face of the belt confronts the top surface of the top sheet, lying generally flat atop the underlying stack sheet; and a tilted position, in which the belt lifts the leading end of the acquired top sheet away from the underlying sheet, flexes it to insure its separation from the underlying sheet and delivers it endwise to a sheet receiving unit.